Commission meeting attendees critical of absent officials
The lack of attendance by Fayette County officials at the regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday drew the ire of a few attendees who were not aware it had been cancelled.
Local Republican Party committee member John Buchanan of Chalk Hill, was one of the first to arrive at the Public Service Building for the October commission meeting only to learn it had been postponed due to the illness of commission Chairman Vince Zapotosky.
“Why aren’t the other two here?” said Buchanan.
Late Monday and again early Tuesday, Chief Clerk Amy Revak issued an email stating that the meeting would be postponed until a later date. Notices were also posted at the Public Service Building and courthouse to alert the public.
According to several emails exchanged between the commissioners and Revak, Zapotosky notified the three early Monday that due to his illness, he would not attend.
“I don’t want to miss (this) meeting, but I yield to both of you as to (whether it will be held),” wrote Zapotosky.
Revak responded to Zapotosky and Commissioners Al Ambrosini and Angela M. Zimmerlink, to advise her of their decision to hold the meeting or delay it.
At 3:44 p.m., Ambrosini wrote that he would defer to Zapotosky’s wishes to reschedule the meeting, adding that commissioners had agreed in the past to delay meetings when he was unavailable to attend.
“We certainly should afford (Zapotosky) the same courtesy,” he said.
Several minutes later, Zimmerlink responded that a quorum was available and the meeting should be held.
“We have a number of items on the agenda which need to be addressed so that departments can move forward,” she said.
Zapotosky responded to Zimmerlink expressing his gratitude, adding that the final decision to hold the scheduled meeting or choose another date was in their hands.
“If I could I would be there,” he said in the correspondence.
Following Ambrosini’s decision to join Zapotosky to cancel the meeting Tuesday, Revak executed the notices.
Dr. Evelyn Hovanec of North Union Township, meanwhile, questioned why the attendees were exiting the meeting place as she was making her way into the building.
“I got up, I got dressed and I drove here,” she said, adding that she had delayed reading the morning paper to attend the meeting. “I didn’t realized it had been cancelled.
“If I had known I would have had another cup of coffee and read the newspaper.”
Buchanan and Hovanec agreed that the cancellation of the last meeting before the election is somewhat suspicious.
“You don’t cancel a meeting the night before a meeting unless there is a huge tragedy,” said Hovanec. “Two people were available to attend. Why weren’t they here?”
Zimmerlink said that the cancellation was both “late and unnecessary,” but did not attend because it had been officially cancelled.
“There was no reason to cancel as both Ambrosini and I were available,” she said. “That makes a quorum.”
Revak said that the meeting will be rescheduled for a later date.